Félix de Vandenesse's youthful love for the beautiful, inaccessible Madame de Mortsauf, who devotes her life to a half-mad husband and two fragile children. Madame de Mortsauf maintains a friendly, tender relationship. But when she learns of the young man's affair with an Englishwoman, she dies of jealousy and regret.
Acting
Delphine Seyrig's restrained devastation is masterclass.
Cinematography
Misty Loire Valley estates that breathe melancholy.
Director
Marcel Cravenne
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Delphine Seyrig had just starred in 'Last Year at Marienbad' three years prior, making this her era of playing unattainable women.
Balzac intended this as part of his 'Human Comedy' exploring how passion destroys under Restoration-era social codes.
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